My 2005 Top Ten Albums

I haven't done one of these in a while, but between the annual task of buying music for my family that they didn't know they wanted, the call to action from favored music blog Coolfer and the magic that is Rhapsody, I felt like I actually had both the motivation and the means to speak semi-intelligently about the year's releases. Even then, as I combed through some of the albums, I noticed a tendency to be swayed by just a couple of strong tracks, provided the rest of the record didn't ruin that experience. But it's still more than I do normally.

So, here we go. Rhapsody users, click here for a track from each of the top ten that may or may not actually work.

Porcupine Tree, Deadwing

With all the hype surrounding the proggish tendencies of bands like The Mars Volta or Coheed and Cambria, this album pulls it off without sounding retro. In particular, the songs are just better, and they pack quite a punch.

Stereophonics, Language. Sex. Violence. Other?

I'll admit that I lean towards UK bands that aren't trying to ride the current Franz Ferdinand wave, so it's no surprise that this Welsh trio makes the cut in that department.

Beck, Guero

Some critics thought this album was too derivative of earlier work, but Beck seemed to strike a balance of all sorts of disparate elements of those previous efforts in one coherent whole.

Bloc Party, Silent Alarm

There's a tremendous sense of urgency about this album, whether coming from the plaintive vocals or the jagged, angular guitars.

Adrian Belew, Side One

A better King Crimson album than King Crimson has released in a while. Belew is joined by Primus bassist Les Claypool and Tool drummer Danny Carey on several mind-bending tracks, and largely eschews his more pop offerings of the last couple of years, opting to go weird instead.

Mike Doughty, Haughty Melodic

The former Soul Coughing singer's latest brims with crispness throughout the writing, the performing and the production. It's just a great-sounding album of really good songs.

Bob Mould, Body of Song

Like Beck, Mould seems to have found a common ground between his past efforts, as this record splits the difference between his more recent electronic efforts and the visceral guitar rock of Sugar and earlier solo work.

New Pornographers, Twin Cinema

The Vancouver indie-pop collective serves up another platter of ebullient hooks. Not quite as consistent as Electric Version, but still a fun listen.

Kate Bush, Aerial

I read one review that said something to the effect of Kate Bush doesn't seem to have listened to much new music in the twelve years since her last album, and that this is a good thing. That's a pretty accurate sentiment, I think. It does have a certain ethereal timelessness about it.

White Stripes, Get Behind Me Satan

I'm surprised this one made the list, because I've actively resisted the White Stripes hype for a long, long time. But listening to the record, they do, in fact, deliver the goods. That a two-person band can at any point sound like Led Zeppelin is just impressive.

Honorable Mention:
Gorillaz, Demon Days
Chris Whitley, Soft Dangerous Shores
Death Cab For Cutie, Plans
Danger Doom, The Mouse and The Mask
John Mayer Trio, Try!
Common, Be
Spoon, Gimme Fiction